cowers in fear of angry readers i am sooooo incredibly sorry for the ridiculous delay. but if its any consolation to ye, i really like this chapter, the grand finale. i think its the best so far! im actually surprised that it came out this well, because i am terrible at endings. but anyway...a big thanks goes out to drgnqn! she didnt even abandon me after such a long time...
i have more muses brewing so be on the lookout for more from me (even if you dont want it haha!) and i dont own csi or any of the characters, but hey cbs! my birthday is in october...
i love each and everyone of you who reviewed! you people are amazing! plz continue to R&R...enjoy!
Sara and Grissom had agreed to meet for breakfast at their usual place. Sure, Sara was ready to pass off her awkward houseguest, but both parties were not looking forward to the synod.
Sara and Giadia arrived before Grissom and seated themselves in a booth across from each other. Coffee was sipped and small talk occurred. Along with grins and stares from Mrs. Grissom directed at Sara. Ever since her admission, the air around them had grown considerably tension filled.
The women noticed the gray haired bowlegged man enter the diner at the same time.
"Gilbert!" the older lady said and signed as she embraced her only son.
"Hello mother." Grissom took a step back to look over the only woman he had ever opened up to.
"Oh deary I've missed you!" as Giadia sat back down, she nudged Grissom towards Sara's side of the booth. He shifted back toward his mother to avoid the uncomfortable confrontation with his-his what? What was Sara, coworker? Friend? Possible lover?
Flustered at his ignorance to her subliminal messaging, Mrs. Grissom pushed Gil over, "Sit there Gilbert. I'll be able to see your hands better over there." She smiled innocently.
But it was at that moment that both Grissom and Sara knew what was going on. Mrs. Giadia A. Grissom was playing matchmaker.
"You'll excuse me for a moment won't you two? I need to use the ladies room." The older woman successfully left them alone. All alone.
'He's terrified of me. I love him and he's terrified of me.'
'I'm terrified of her. I love her and I'm terrified of her.'
Giadia returned to find the infamous uncouple sitting in complete silence.
'Damn.'
Then, a young, hot, Greg-Sanders-looking waiter appeared to take orders and flirt shamelessly with the leggy brunette with cute teeth.
"Hi there!" his smile was huge and he was leaning very macho against the booth much too close to Sara for Grissom's comfort. "I'm Scott, and you're hot!" Scott chuckled at his own joke.
Grissom however did not find it funny at all. His posture tensed and he subconsciously slid closer to Sara, giving "you're-hot-Scott" a death glare.
Clearing his throat, Grissom announced back, "Yes! Well, if you are here to take our orders…"
"Yea yea yea, don't get your panties in a bunch, buddy." Scott took each of the Grissoms orders. But to Gil's dismay, when Sara ordered, she seemed to flirt right back with the jerk. Her bright smile lit the room, and it made Grissom want to throw up.
He sat planning how to kill this Scott.
As soon as the waiter had sauntered off to another table, Mrs. Grissom went back into action, "So you two have known each other a long time, huh?" She posed, trying to start a 'remember when' game.
'9 years, 3 months, and…4 days'
"Yea, awhile…" Sara answered instead, mentally slapping herself for her stalker-ish answer.
Another discomforted silence filled the time until Scott came back with the group's meals. Both Grissoms ordered large plate of fruit and toast, but seeing that Sara had only ordered 2 pieces of French toast, Grissom sighed and asked Scott, "Could you bring her a short stack of pancakes as well."
"Griss what are you doing? I'm fine!"
"Sara! God, we've had this conversation before! You need to eat more! You're going to just disappear someday!"
"Hey pops! Lay off the girl!" Scott said, butting in.
Grissom was Mt. St. Helens. Vesuvius. Krakatoa. All rolled into one very, very angry package. Grissom was really really mad.
With clenched teeth, he stared the soon-to-be-deceased-waiter in the eyes, "Scott. If you know what is good for you, then you go get this woman her pancakes RIGHT NOW and you NEVER EVER refer to me as 'pops' AGAIN."
The man got the picture and scurried off.
Mrs. Grissom sighed, hid her face in her hands and accepted defeat in her mission.
No one said or signed a word for the remainder of the time.
However, Grissom remained very close and protective of Sara. His Sara. Not Scott's Sara. Not nobody's Sara. His Sara.
When the three exited the diner, Sara and Gil next to each other in front followed by Giadia, Grissom erupted.
"What an awful waiter. I swear. All in your face like that! I should call his manager…" 'and slice off his-'
Sara bitterly laughed, "Ha, and what if I enjoyed it? It's nice to know SOMEONE is interested in me! What right do you have to be jealous?"
"I am not jealous!"
"Oh, yes you are."
"Are not!"
"STOP IT! JUST SHUT UP THE BOTH OF YOU!" the angry voice of Giadia Grissom split through the childish argument. The uncouple spun around utterly shocked, to face the frustrated woman.
"For Christ's sake! You have told me a thousand times over, Gil, that you love her. And you," she pointed, her finger waggling accusingly at Sara, "you told me just last night that you loved him! What are you waiting for!" Giadia threw up her hands and marched around in a circle, similarly to the dance of a teenager, given an early curfew.
"You! My ignorant enigmatic excuse for a son! Do something important for a living person for once! Grab that woman, whom you love, and kiss her silly!"
And for a few moments, the world stopped spinning. Gil Grissom looked at his mother, a woman of few, though meaningful, words, and then at Sara, the woman who even as a young college girl had stolen his heart and held it captive with a priceless ransom.
And maybe it was because he hated to anger his mother. And maybe it was because he was too tired of fighting his feelings. Or maybe it simply was because Sara's blouse was that tight little v-necked red one he loved so much.
But whatever the reason, he did it. Grissom grabbed Sara and kissed her silly, well, maybe not, but he did kiss her and it made them both feel silly.
The first kiss was a quick frightened peck, but by the time Sara realized she was being kissed by what was undoubtedly her soul mate, the kiss was over. And Grissom stood there. His arm still around Sara's waist, looking absolutely terrified.
Sara, still in shock, licked her lips and enjoyed the taste of the black coffee, wheat toast, and fruit from Grissom's breakfast, but along with the food was something else. Another taste which she couldn't quite name. So, her curiosity getting the better of her, she dove in for another taste. She was kissing Grissom. And he was kissing her back. Somewhere in the middle of this miracle kiss, Sara realized what that taste was. Completeness. Yea, now she was complete. It was as if Grissom was her last puzzle piece. The jigsaw puzzle of her life for the first time was complete. And damn, it felt good.
They finally drew apart for air, and just stared at each other.
"This doesn't solve anything, Grissom" Sara sounded out of breath and even a little bit tipsy. It was a giant boost to Grissom's ego that he could do that to her.
"I know Sara, and…I, I still don't know what to do about this…but I want to try. Please help me try Sara."
Grissom knew he had said the right thing when that addictive intoxicating smile that shone brighter than the stars at night, spread across her face.
"Yea," She said, kissing him again. "I'll help you try."
Grissom couldn't help but smile warmly and slip his arm around Sara's waist and pull her in close to his body. Leaning into each other, they started off to the car.
As for Mrs. Grissom, she just stood there, hands on her hips, shaking her head as she watched the two impossibly stubborn lovers walk off.